How safe is your home? Recent data can help you compare.
The Zebra, an insurance site, used data from the FBI on property crime rates, robbery rates and arson volume to compile a list of America’s most dangerous cities for those types of crime. The site only looked at data from the 50 most populated metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and substituted city or state data when necessary to fill in gaps.
Property crime is one of the most common violations in the U.S. The Zebra was able to identify the MSAs with the most offenses. Let’s get into their list.
10. Cleveland (tie)
Annual number of:
- Property crimes: 1,851.4 per 100,000 people
- Robberies: 120.5 per 100,000 people
- Arson offenses: 1,091
Although Cleveland ranks tenth overall, its robberies alone land in seventh place, according to The Zebra. U.S. News & World Report notes that the Ohio city has a higher rate of crime than metro areas similar in size.
10. Austin, Texas (tie)
- Property crimes: 2,410.2 per 100,000 people
- Robberies: 56.9 per 100,000 people
- Arson offenses: 2,921
Both violent and property crime have declined in Austin since 2020. With a score of 5 out of 100, it’s safer than about 5% of U.S. cities, according to Neighborhood Scout.
9. Columbus, Ohio
- Property crimes: 2,390.3 per 100,000 people
- Robberies: 99.9 per 100,000 people
- Arson offenses: 1,091
In 2023, Columbus saw an increased number of overall crimes compared with the previous year. Its rate of property crime and robberies are above average, the Zebra says.
8. Nashville, Tennessee
- Property crimes: 2,449.5 per 100,000 people
- Robberies: 119.1 per 100,000 people
- Arson offenses: 878
Nashville has seen a rise in property crime over the past year, particularly auto theft. The data shows, however, that the number of violent crimes has decreased.
7. San Jose, California
- Property crimes: 2,400.60 per 100,000 people
- Robberies: 93.10 per 100,000 people
- Arson offenses: 3,362
According to the San Jose Police Department, there was an approximately 13% increase in property crime between 2021 and 2022. Larceny, specifically, had the biggest jump.
6. Sacramento, California
- Property crimes: 2,193.9 per 100,000 people
- Robberies: 102 per 100,000 people
- Arson offenses: 3,362
AreaVibes, a real estate data group, gave Sacramento an “F” rating for its crime. Its overall crime rates, property crime rates and violent crime rates are all significantly higher than the national average.
5. San Antonio
- Property crimes: 3,280.7 per 100,000 people
- Robberies: 86.7 per 100,000 people
- Arson offenses: 2,921
The San Antonio Police Department’s 2023 data shows that while violent crime is down, there’s been an uptick in property crime since a year earlier. According to the Texas city’s chief of police, stolen vehicles are driving that number.
4. Riverside, California
- Property crimes: 2,275.1 per 100,000 people
- Robberies: 113.4 per 100,000 people
- Arson offenses: 3,362
The City of Riverside keeps a Crime Dashboard that provides a heat map of crime density and detailed counts of crime within certain time periods. This lets users see when crime reportedly happens most often — both the day of the week and the hour.
3. Los Angeles
- Property crimes: 2,140.7 per 100,000 people
- Robberies: 157.3 per 100,000 people
- Arson offenses: 3,362
Reports show that property crime statistics went up by 3.5% in 2023. The Los Angeles Police Department maintains a Crime Map that publicizes what crimes are being reported and where they’ve taken place.
2. Memphis, Tennessee
- Property crimes: 4,053.4 per 100,000 people
- Robberies: 207.1 per 100,000 people
- Arson offenses: 878
Property crime in Memphis is about three times as prevalent as violent crime. Numbers released by the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission show that although property crime has come down over the previous year’s report (largely due to fewer vehicle thefts), overall crime increased.
1. San Francisco
- Property crimes: 3,523.60 per 100,000 people
- Robberies: 217.40 per 100,000 people
- Arson offenses: 3,620
San Francisco has the highest level of property crime by volume in the country. But, the city said in March 2024, property crime is down 30% compared to September 2023, as “the result of increased and coordinated enforcement efforts by local, state, and federal agencies that are partnering to make San Francisco a safer place.”
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